Virtual Reality Exposure for Public Speaking Anxiety

NCT ID: NCT06214039

Last Updated: 2024-05-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 80 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2024-02-14
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-31

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the efficacy of exposure using virtual reality (VR) for public speaking anxiety in young adults in two treatment arms: a one-session VR exposure therapy with a 4-week online transition intervention versus a three-session VR exposure therapy with a 4-week online transition intervention. Previous studies have demonstrated that one-session therapy (OST) is comparable to prolonged exposure-based therapies in terms of effectively reducing public speaking anxiety. Moreover, VR offers many benefits compared to in-person exposure, namely the ability to produce anxiety-evoking stimuli without having to leave the therapist's room. However, OST VR exposure has not been directly compared to prolonged VR exposure and not for public speaking anxiety.

Conditions

Public Speaking Anxiety

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

One session therapy

One session exposure therapy followed by 4 weeks of internet-delivered self-help with therapist support on demand

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exposure in virtual reality and text based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for public speaking anxiety

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A 3-hour one session exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety

One session therapy - divided into 3

Three session exposure therapy followed by 4 weeks of internet-delivered self-help with therapist support on demand

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Exposure in virtual reality and text based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for public speaking anxiety

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

A 3-hour one session exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety

Interventions

Exposure in virtual reality and text based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for public speaking anxiety

A 3-hour one session exposure therapy for public speaking anxiety

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• aged 18-30 and studying in higher education;
• experiencing a significant level of public speaking anxiety (60+ on PSAS);
• able to use a computer and have access to the internet for the duration of the study;
• able to understand, write and speak in Lithuanian;
• available to participate in one or three in-person intervention sessions and can devote the time to participate in a 4-week online program following the intervention sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

• a history of seizures or a history of epilepsy;
• other significant medical conditions that would prevent them from participating in the program;
• high levels of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 rating of 15 and above and mentions of suicidal ideation) or other significant psychiatric conditions that would interfere with participation in the program;
• a tendency to have extreme seasickness reactions or a history of adverse physical reactions to virtual reality experiences or difficulty with or lack of stereoscopic vision;
• current involvement in other psychological interventions such as psychological counseling or psychotherapy;
• use of psychoactive drugs, unless stable for three months;
• current participation in other programs aimed at reducing public speaking anxiety.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 30 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Linkoeping University

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Stockholm University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Vilnius University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Jonas Eimontas, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Vilnius University

Locations

Vilnius University

Vilnius, , Lithuania

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Lithuania

Central Contacts

Jonas Eimontas, PhD

Role: CONTACT

jonas.eimontas@fsf.vu.lt

+37052667615

Facility Contacts

Jonas Eimontas, PhD

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

VRanx_001

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id